software recommendation - A file manager with free icon placing option - Ask Ubuntu

is there linux file manager can place icons in window anywhere want?

i see managers (for win&lin) icons aligned in grid name, size, date etc. however, on desktop can place icon everywhere , sort.

why not different map? exist?

yes, option found in nautilus , original fork, caja.

where option

the option found in context menu of file manager. therefore, user not find option in preferences of file manager @ all.

• right-click on mouse, select arrange items > manually.

• then feel free arrange files while using icon view.

• the arrangement persists after changing folder view, long selected option not changed else.

note 2 above have "free icon placing option". option not available in other variants of nautilus such gnome files (gnome 3), files (unity) , nemo (cinnamon).

why not other variants

nautilus , original features deprecated introduction of unity , gnome 3 desktop environment in 2010 , 2011. not long after that mate had forked gnome 2 of gnome core applications included nautilus , original features.

remember or not, nautilus had "split panel" (viewing area divides half) , "saved search folder" (quick access search keyword). "arrange items manually" 1 of such features less known or used average users.

gnome files, nautilus in gnome 3, has no such option sorting files since gnome 3.0. files, nautilus in unity, has no such way of sorting files in ubuntu. nemo, nautilus in cinnamon, totally out of question, since it forked nautilus in gnome 3.4.

meet nautilus, in gnome 2

for trying option without installing or messing default file manager, use live cd includes gnome 2 i.e. ubuntu 10.04 (if available). boot desktop, open file manager , try out option shown in following screenshot.

meet caja, available elsewhere

for 16.04 , newer releases, install caja ubuntu repositories. 14.04 release, use this ppa, mate trusty ppa "ubuntu mate developers" team install accordingly. then, open file manager , can use option shown in following screenshot.

tested using caja 1.12.7 in xubuntu 16.04 (xfce 4.12). users can expect option available in older release of caja in 14.04. however, whether dependencies satisfied or not, matter.

disclaimer: read before downvote

while users might criticize or downvote suggesting outdated file manager i.e. nautilus in gnome 2, answer intended show how used appear , how compares current file manager i.e. caja in elsewhere. work similarly? yes, proved screenshots.

users don't use mate want revisit gnome 2 can choose boot old live cd or iso image , rediscover option in nautilus experience. otherwise, users should prefer install current ones, caja, without having install ubuntu mate or mate whole.